It was one of the worst days of my life. Tragedy struck our family in the worst way and I was emotionally paralyzed. That’s when my friend, Mary, stepped in to do what I couldn’t. She made me a hotel reservation, called the necessary people, and said, “It’s going to be okay.”
“It’s going to be okay” is one of the most hope-filled sentiments I can offer to others, and that I can choose to believe for myself. The writer of Hebrews says: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1 NET). That’s where hope comes from.
Of course, for the Christian, there is the future hope of eternity with God. But there’s also hope for the here and now. We have the assurance, the evidence of things not seen, that no matter what happens, God is still on His throne.
What is biblical hope? Hope is tethering what we do know about God’s faithfulness to what we don’t know about our future.
In defining faith as “being sure of what we hope for,” the writer of Hebrews gives us an insight into hope, but let’s chew on it a bit. Biblical hope is not a wish. A wish is something we want to have or to happen. “I wish I had a house.” “I wish I could go to Spain.” “I wish I had a smaller waistline.” Maybe it will happen one day, maybe it won’t.
In contrast, biblical hope is a certainty that our ultimate future rests in God’s capable and loving hands. It is an assurance that the invisible God has a good plan in my visible life.
Old Testament writers used several Hebrew words for hope. One is qawa, which means hope in the sense of trust, as when the prophet Jeremiah said to God, “Our hope is in you” (Jeremiah 14:22).
New Testament writers used the Greek word hupomeno for hope. It means to wait, to be patient, to endure, to persevere under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one’s faith in Christ.
One of the ways that we can become hope-givers is to share our stories of how God got us through a difficult time in our lives. Whether it was something done to us or through us, telling others about how God healed the hurt or removed the shame gives them hope that He can do it for them as well. When you tell your story of redemption:
Hope becomes conceivable.
You become believable.
Sometimes, it may take years to put back the pieces the wrecking ball of pain has caused. The atrocities we’ve endured may tempt us to believe that someone other than God is writing our stories. But God has the power:
To redeem what we consider unredeemable.
To heal what we consider fatally wounded.
To make our worst chapters our greatest victories.
And then to fashion us into hope-givers who are believable when we tell another, “It’s going to be okay.”
When tragedy tears our hearts out, when untimely death cracks the foundation of our faith, when abuse mars all that is good, we mourn. We grieve the loss. But we mustn’t allow the story to stop there.
I type these words with tears in my eyes because I have lived them.
Hear me when I say, it’s going to be okay—you’re going to be okay. God has more to write.
God, I trust You. No matter what happens this side of heaven, I know it’s going to be okay because You have a purpose and a plan. I might not like the situation or understand the observation, but I trust You without reservation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
What is one difficult situation you’re going through in which you need to believe…it’s going to be OK. Leave a message and let’s encourage one another.
Digging Deeper
Everyone likes a good story, but not everyone likes their own story. Did you know that the chapters you’d like to tear out of your story are the very ones God can use the most? Those stories can make you stronger…if you let them. They can give someone else hope…if you tell them.
When You Don’t Like Your Story: What if Your Worst Chapters Could Become Your Greatest Victories is one of my most powerful books. It will truly change your life.
Now available: A six-week video teaching series for group or individual study.
Also, check out the beautiful handmade This is My Story bracelet as a reminder to tell your story!
Comments 65
Yes, Yes, Yes
I have licked the floors of HELL
A prodigal son
Placing his name 3 times in the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem while he is imprisoned.
Year after year praying for a miracle.
All the the worst chapters became Gods Redemption of his soul & life.
I believe!
Author
I believe either you!
I had a similar situation with my son. Gangs, drugs, etc. I didn’t hear from him for 3 years. I prayed and thanked God everyday that he would watch over him. I got a call from jail where he joined victory outreach, a Bible study program. He turned his life around and is leading others like him to God now. Never give up hope!
Author
What a great story!!!!!
Please pray that my eyes and heart will be opened on how to express my love to others. My niece and her family are moving out of my house because they say they don’t feel the love. I’m not a demonstrative person but my love runs deep. Please pray that my eyes might be opened and that God will show them that I really love them. I don’t pray that , I don’t pray for a reversal of their plans, I pray that they fully know that I love them. Thank you for your prayers. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!
Sometimes rejection is redirection and protection. I pray God gives you His discernment and wisdom to SEE with the eyes of EL ROI the God who sees. There is nothing that He does not see and know regardless of what was said through the EYES of God. EL ROI ye shall see the TRUTH and the TRUTH shall set you FREE. Do not. And I say Do Not let words of bondage in shrine you. This is a trap of the enemy. Release them and keep moving forward in your faith. Let God deal with them.
Dear Naomi, God has seen your heart and how you desire to express love to others. In my case I needed wisdom in my life. I used to believe that helping others it was an obligation of my part. Even if it would cost me personal loss. I brought this helping pattern into my Christian life, and I must say that many times caused me sorrow, until God showed me that about giving, He loves a cheerful heart! (2 Cor 9:7) I was conditioned from childhood to do beyond my capacities. I didn’t want others see me as a cold or bad person. Today I understand how important the condition of our heart to God is. Guarding our hearts is above all, for everything we do flows from it (Proverb 4:23) Helping other is an expression of love and it should never become a burden. But when it produces that joyful feeling, our God’s call to help that person has been accomplished. I have also leant that all help coming from God make us to be thankful and instead of disapproval we give Him GLORY.
I need to believe & have hope, faith and trust in God that it will be okay as he work behind the scenes for me helping me with:
– getting this situation worked out with my mom Cpap machine & issue with insurance and the doctor
-with weight loss struggles
-with my finances & keeping my healthcare insurance
-inner peace & rest
– peace & harmony with my family
All this I pray for in Jesus name. Amen, Amen & Amen!🙏🏾
I’m struggling with believing our trip to visit my son in Japan in June will work out. Changes in his deployment could impact timing and if we get to see him. Praying that I will trust in God to handle the details.
Been in a season of loss and grief this last time for almost 3 years. Moved to take care of my elderly parents. Mom died, dads hanging by a thread. Daughters 6 months pregnant And we are possibly loosing our home….
Dear God, I pray that you quiet Pam’s mind. I bind and cast away all chaos and confusion from her mind. I command her mind to Be Still and Know FORTIFY her faith Father and remind her that you are God. Hide her in your heart Father surround her in your presence. I pray that the Anointing of Isachaar rest on her In Jesus Name. Amen
My husband’s blood pressure is really high high. And I feel like he is dragging his feet to go to the doctor. We have no children. It’s just the two of us. I know God has a plan. I just need to trust him with it.
My young adult daughter has been chronically ill for years. It breaks my heart for her. She’s lost most of her friends and those she still has are getting married and having children and she struggles daily. I know God could heal her but the days are hard. I’m struggling but trying to keep my faith.
Going through a difficult time with a friend that is and will effect multiple parts of my life.
“It’s going to be okay”
I tell myself that everyday and believe God is going to heal my son John, who has been in bondage for 40 yrs to drug addiction! I believe God is going to heal my son Brian of his bipolar and mental health disabilities! God will restore all things that the locusts have stolen. Thank you Jesus!
Yes it’s going to be ok, because I serve the one true God who will make it more than I could have ever dreamed of. He’s always working Praise God.
Amen!!
I have been in the a very emotionally abusive marriage for 38 years. I don’t believe that God wants us to separate. So I’m going to trust that it’s going to be okay. Thank you for your message.
Leslie Vernick has some good resources that address abuse. I hope they will help you in your situation.
Author
Yes. She is a great resource.
One? It’s been a very difficult seven months. While on vacation, I fell and broke my ankle. While I was awaiting surgery, my husband passed away in our hotel room. Then my best friend died, my daughter had to have open-heart surgery and I was diagnosed with cancer. I have not once lost faith. However, I could certainly use a break. I know God has something good in store for me, yet, I only hear him telling me to wait. It’s so hard but it’s going to be ok. I know he has great things in store for me.
Author
That is a lot all at one time! God has left YOU here for a reason. Stay tuned!
I wish I had your kind of faith. I have a son who’s homeless, jobless ,no insurance and mentally unstable. And I’m losing my teeth. My faith is fading
I enjoy yoir devotionals, Sharon! I have been fighting the ability to function well the past 7 years with debilitating concern about my youngest son. I also have lost most my jobs I have gotten from anxiety & concern. I tried to control my husband & family; thinking I knew best. I have regretted over spending with shopping
fights with my husband over getting rid of items I bought compulsively. I felt voiceless in trying to reign in our youngest son. My over controlling ways and disagreeing on parenting hurt my family. I put too much energy into spending money & not pouring into my son encouragement & tools to be reaponsible. I messed up losing my cool a lo getting angry. I asked my husband to move out if he would not parent. I regret making an ultimatum based on making my husband give accountability. .
I had the life of leisure, my husband hired a cleaning lady. I took my hard working husband for granted. He drives one hour one way to work. I need ti find purpose. I get stuck jist going no where; ruminating. .I need to stop being lost & stay busy with productive things to do.
Trying to Focus on the blessings I have 3 year old, Grandson My oldest son is happily married. I love my daughter-in-law! I need to quit being needy. Be productive. Not whine & feel-sorry for myself.
Author
I think the book Take Hold of the Faith You Long For would really help.
Sharon, again your message has hit home and encouraged me that the Lord has this and I can trust Him with the really devastating things that life presents. He is able!
Love and appreciate you!
I have a lymph node biopsy today. I pray everything is going to be okay.
It’s in God’s hands. The word says, where two or more are gathered.” Praying for you.
Trying to convince my broken daughters that healing is in God. I’m telling them by witnessing to them, “over here, healing is here in God”. But they’re not hearing me yet. And I say yet because I know with God that they’ll here one day. Amber and Briana. Please keep them in prayer.
I have a lymph node biopsy today. Praying
Praying and believing God for you that the biopsy will be benign🙏🏽
I need to trust God without reservation regarding a previous friendship with someone from whom I am now estranged—not by choice, but due to unreciprocated interest in maintaining a friendship. I have prayed and asked God why and have yet to receive an answer. So, I don’t like the situation or understand the observation, but I trust God without reservation. Amen.
I have health concerns that are unresolved and unknown outcomes.
Thank you for these morning words of encouragement! My heart is heavy as I wake up once more to the reality that my daughter is dying from ovarian cancer. Kate is my kindred spirit and I can’t imagine my life without her. She has strayed from Jesus; strayed from her childhood belief and teenage dedication. I’m trusting my God to awaken her soul and comfort her as she walks this hard road. My hope is in Jesus.♥️
Praying for you!🙏🙏🙏❤️ I know this is a very difficult time. God has you and your family in his hands. God is your light in this dark world. I love Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Another scripture I love is Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God.
Keep trusting in God and holding on to your faith. Pray to God for his strength and guidances. Hold onto his attributes. 🙏🙏🙏❤️
Hope in God’s capable and loving hands! As I continue to walk in and through a Biblical Separation that seems may not rebirth our marriage…God is Good, Faithful, Loving, Healing…..and I’m believing, I will be Okay! God is the author and the story is still being written!
My new chapter starts today. My husband commited Adultery and our divorce was final yesterday. Its going to be ok is the 1st thing I saw this morning when I opened up my phone. God is so Good🙏
I have to believe that it’s going to be okay! I closed on my new home and a month later, my job was terminated. With mounting bills and barely enough income–I know that God is my provider. He has kept me through unemployment before. But in today’s climate, I struggle to have the faith I need to believe this! Please pray for God to strengthen my faith and to trust Him.
God I trust you
My husband passed away in 2019.
We had been married for 47 years.
I was 18 and he 21. Grief still comes in waves and I must cling
Tightly to God. I know that it’s going to be okay because Jesus lives in my heart. My comforter, my healer and the life ❤️🙏
My 22-year-old daughter and I had some disagreements about life, and she recently decided she was going to leave home and move in with her boyfriend. Ugh… She stopped all communication with us for about 2 months. We are slowly making are way back now, but it is nothing like it used to be. The loss for me has been heartbreaking, and there have been many days when I have questioned what God is doing and why it has to be this way, but I know I cannot give up. I just have to keep praying and believing for restoration. I believe with my whole heart, it’s going to be okay!
God has used the abuse of my childhood and the abuse, escape, stalking/hunting to kill me for 2.5 yrs by my first husband so many times to help others escape/recover! He has blessed me with 2 amazing, “never boring” sons who have ADHD and/or autism. He used all of our challenges to help us help many families. God uses our most challenging times way more than the less stressful, “calm” periods between storms! The rainbows are so beautiful!
My situation is that my family come together and communicate with one another , resolving all past hurts, pain and misunderstandings. May they draw closer to God and believe that It’s going to be OK🙏🏾
My daughter has been in a relationship for where she has been treated “less than” for many years. It’s heartbreaking to watch her continually make choices for his benefit. She is beautiful, brilliant, loves Jesus and yet she doesn’t think enough of herself to believe she deserves a person who loves and respects her. I pray that God would give my husband, family and I peace while He works this situation for her good. I also pray He would heal my anger toward this man.
I was laid off work last year and have been self employed since last June. Things have been slow and I’ve been living off my retirement savings which are soon to be nonexistent. Last week I twisted my ankle and have become incapacitated. I feel like God is making me be still for a reason. I feel like there’s nothing I can do right now but depend on Him. This situation has also forced me to be still and depend on other people in my household and I’ve been forced to speak up and ask for help, which is hard for me. Please pray for me. I feel so stuck right now.
God spoke to me that I should wear my hair long. My hair does grow slowly and is now several inches past my shoulders it has never been this long. I keep thinking that I should have it cut to shoulder length and it would be easier to take care of. But I don’t want to go against God’s will for me.
I just lost my job at a company I liked because I did not score high enough in a licensing exam. I really needed that job it took me months to obtain that job now I’m job hunting again. It seems like when I’m happy about something or find a job at a company God pulls the rug out from underneath me or so I think. I often feel Hod does not want me to be happy. I would covet your prayers that I would find another job that I would enjoy. Also that God would remove this feeling that I have.
This was so timely for me… I’ve been dealing with Burning mouth syndrome now for 3 years. I’ve tried so many treatments, including acupuncture, paid meds, mouth rinses and now recently I’m doing laser therapy. After 2 weeks, I’m yet to get relief. It’s so discouraging. My prayer is please God heal me, if not help me find treatment and if not that, help me to live with the pain. Thanks so much for your devotion and how I needed to know, no matter what it will be okay.
My Fiance’ is dealing with alcohol issues, it has caused strain on our relationship. I am having doubts about marriage and pray constantly that he find the strength, through God, to be stronger then the temptation to drink. I have been, at times, been losing my Faith that God has me on the right path and will show me what I need to see.
I lost my. Dad a week ago unexpectedly. I’m in alot of pain. My heart is broken.
Author
It’s going to be ok.
It looks dire and almost impossible to. But there’s hope. My son will be okay. Faith and love will overcome my fears. I am going to be okay.
Good to hear this today.
I have a son, Noah, who has been estranged from our entire family for almost 8 years now. I have not been able to go to his wedding or meet his little girl, who is 3 now. I know the Lord is going to reconcile us, but every Mother’s Day is hard. He is my baby son. Please pray for a change soon.
God is good, faithful, just and true. Trust the process and ALL will be well.
Amen!
This past Mother’s Day I was in ER. Oh well. All I did was say, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” until released. I’m feeling much better. I do need to see a cardiologist but I will continue to say, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” You are my healer. Amen!
I have been unemployed for about three months now. I have an interview tomorrow, and I believe God will provide me with employment soon. Amen
My 31 year old son was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 6 years old, After surgery and radiation he was left with many deficits, had a stroke at 9 and has experienced seizures on and off, three years ago he had a minor seizure and lost complete vision in both eyes., We keep believing for a miracle and are marveled at his resilience, but it’s very sad to see him year after year struggling with new health issues. I praise the Lord that my son’s faith is strong, but I so want for him to experience life with friends and not feel left behind, as his brothers have both gone on with their lives and he feels stuck. My heart hurts for him.
My DIL had a stillbirth all most three years ago. She is considered a high risk pregnancy. My entire family prayed for her pregnancy. The stillbirth was devastating to our family.
She now is pregnant with twins I’m so afraid this pregnancy will not turn out well! Please pray for us
I can’t even begin to imagine HOW it’s going to be ok. Our 44 year old daughter took her last breath on April 21st. She was a wife and mother of five. Shortly before she went into hospice, my husband was diagnosed with MSA-P, which is atypical Parkinson’s with a rapid decline and early death. I am his sole caregiver. I am overwhelmed with waves of grief and exhaustion.
Come Lord Jesus!
Depression and a job loss! Struggling today, but I know God is good!
I have two situations that I am believing God to do His work in. First, my adult daughter has been battling Long COVID for over 2 years now. She is an Occupational Therapist and hasn’t been able to work for almost a year now. She has such severe fatique and muscle weakness that she will just fall all at once because her legs just give out. She has to nap at least 2-3 times a day just to get through the day. Not to mention the brain fog that makes it hard sometimes just to hold a conversation. I know that God has a reason for this and I pray that His will be done. I also know, though, that if I ask anything in His name with faith it will be answered. I am knocking Jesus door down right now with prayer!
The second thing right now is that my step-mother (who has been my mother since my dad remarried after my mom dies when I was 9) has just been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and it’s a rare, aggressive type. I am praying for healing and peace for her. My dad just died in February so this has been a hard year already for our family. I know that God’s got this and I know that He is faithful. I pray His will be done and I will continue to pray for her healing.
After 5years of my daughter shutting me out of my life and not allowing me to see my grandchildren, I have lost hope.
Moving on from the past after 22 years of marriage .
Restoration of broken marriage. Husband pursuing divorce but he is asking God to stop him if it’s not the right thing to do. I do not want the divorce.
In need of healing! God I lay my prayer at your feet. I come to the thrown room, you hear my cry! Everyone that has left a comment has a heavy burden, give each and everyone peace, peace wonderful peace, peace that can only rain down from heaven above.
He loves you and me…it’s going to be okay! God’s got this!